A Wild Fishing Lake off Mile 83.3 of the Glenn Highway
Bonnie Lake State Recreation Site is a 100-acre state unit at Bonnie Lake near Chickaloon, in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. To reach it, you leave the Glenn Highway at Mile 83.3 and follow a gravel road for 2.1 miles to the lake access, as the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) describes it. The land belongs to the State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources.
ADF&G lists a gravel parking area, a hardened-gravel boat ramp, a toilet and an information kiosk. From the parking area, a trail in good condition reaches the water after about 25 yards. There are no trash facilities, no benches and no fire rings. ADF&G calls the site easy to reach and says it is used for fishing and recreation in both summer and winter. Its lake access sheet labels Bonnie Lake as a wild lake, not a stocked one.
Alaska State Parks publishes no unit page for Bonnie Lake, and the site appears neither in its fee schedule nor in its campground list. The unit is recorded in the DNR park boundary data under land file ADL 42397.
Things to Do
- Fishing: ADF&G names summer fishing at the lake
- Ice fishing: ADF&G names winter fishing as well
- Boating: a hardened-gravel boat ramp at the access site
Park Information
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | N Bonnie Lake Rd, 2.1 miles off Mile 83.3 Glenn Highway, near Chickaloon |
| Size | 100 acres (Alaska DNR park boundary data) |
| Access | Gravel road, 2.1 miles from the Glenn Highway; trail of about 25 yards to the water |
| Parking | Gravel; ADF&G counts 16 vehicles, 8 with boat trailers and 8 motorhomes |
| Boat ramp | Hardened gravel |
| Facilities | Toilet and information kiosk; no trash facilities, benches or fire rings |
| Camping | No campsites listed by Alaska State Parks or ADF&G |
| Fees | No fee listed in the Alaska State Parks fee schedule (as of October 2026) |
| Land file | DNR ADL 42397 |
| Coordinates | 61.8114, -148.2997 |
Getting There
Leave the Glenn Highway at Mile 83.3 on the gravel road to the left and drive 2.1 miles to the lake access. ADF&G notes that the final approach has no road sign, so keep an eye on your odometer. Since the site has no trash facilities, plan to pack out everything you bring.
Nearby State Parks
The distances below are straight-line. King Mountain State Recreation Site lies about 7 miles southwest, and Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site about 16 miles east.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to Bonnie Lake State Recreation Site?
Turn off the Glenn Highway at Mile 83.3 onto the gravel road on the left and drive 2.1 miles to the lake access, according to ADF&G.
Is there a boat launch at Bonnie Lake?
Yes. ADF&G lists a hardened-gravel boat ramp, with gravel parking for 16 vehicles, including 8 with boat trailers.
Can you camp at Bonnie Lake State Recreation Site?
Neither Alaska State Parks nor ADF&G lists campsites here. ADF&G names a toilet but no fire rings, benches or trash facilities.
Can you fish Bonnie Lake in winter?
Yes. ADF&G describes the site as used for fishing in both summer and winter.
Sources: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Bonnie Lake access sheet; Alaska State Parks fee schedule; Alaska DNR, ASP Park Boundary (open data). Last updated: October 2026.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Bonnie Lake State Recreation Site
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets are welcome in Alaska State Parks and campgrounds when leashed and accompanied by the owner; unleashed dogs are allowed in the backcountry if under voice control.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- Leash not exceeding 9 feet required in developed facilities (campgrounds, picnic areas, trailheads, swim beaches, boat ramps).
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- No statewide pet ban on beaches; swim beaches count as developed facilities where the 9-foot leash rule applies.
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- In the backcountry leashes are not required but pets must remain under voice control; in trapping areas (e.g. Chena River SRA) leashing is strongly advised for dog safety.
Are dogs allowed at Bonnie Lake State Recreation Site?
Pets are welcome in Alaska State Parks and campgrounds when leashed and accompanied by the owner; unleashed dogs are allowed in the backcountry if under voice control. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via dnr.alaska.gov. More: Alaska state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
Park Map
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